Everything We Know About The Masked Singer Season 6

Fans of The Masked Singer know the series consistently leaves its audience with questions like who is Cluedle-Doo? Why in the world did Caitlyn Jenner sing Kesha’s “TiK ToK”? And how in the world does this wild show keep getting renewed for more seasons and a spinoff? The latter query about The Masked Singer may be the only one that’s been answered officially: Like it or not, the show will go on! As reported by Deadline on May 17, Fox renewed the beloved show for a sixth season set to air this fall. Thanks to the show’s immense popularity and guests, like Kermit the Frog masquerading as the Snail, the news of a renewal wasn’t all that surprising.

Season 5 was also defined by a pandemic-induced hosting switch (Niecy Nash stepped in when Nick Cannon contracted COVID), as well as the introduction of new elements like wildcards and the mysterious feathered Cluedle-Doo. Now, with Season 6 on its way, you might assume that the next installment will be even more of a wild ride — and you’re probably right. Here is everything we know about The Masked Singer Season 6 so far, including its premiere date and its role in the ever-expanding “Masked Universe.”

The Masked Singer Season 6 Format & Panelists

Season 6 of The Masked Singer will feature its usual Group A and Group B format, but for the first time in the series’ history, one single finalist will emerge from each group. Then, the two finalists will have to compete for the winning spot. “It's almost like we have three finales in our show. We have a winner from Group A and Group B, and they'll then be going head-to-head almost like a prizefight to see who is the Masked Singer [in the finale],” executive producer Craig Plestis told EW. “But the great thing is, they'll be taking on each other, and they've never sat on the same stage together until that moment.”

Fans can also look forward to the addition of the Take It Off Buzzer this time around. If two panelists are certain they know a contestant’s identity, they can hit the buzzer and give their guess. If they’re right, the celebrity must immediately unmask and exit the competition, and the guessing panelist will receive two points towards the coveted Golden Ear Trophy. But if their guess is incorrect, the contestant’s identity will remain hidden, and the panelist will instead lose two points towards the trophy. Furthermore, the Take It Off Buzzer is only available for one use in Group A and one in Group B, so not every panelist will get the chance to buzz.

While the celebrities competing on Season 6 won’t be revealed until the competition is underway, Plestis told EW that the roster is “incredible” and features many “unexpected voices.” He continued, “Not everyone is a professional singer, but there's a lot of hidden talents we've discovered around the world and in Hollywood, people who can sing and perform. There's so many people that just make you smile this season like we've never had before. So we're thrilled by that.”

As for the show’s host and panelists, expect many familiar faces. Cannon will return as emcee for Season 6, while Nicole Scherzinger, Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg, and Robin Thicke will be back in their seats on the judging panel. Season 6’s guest panelists include will.i.am, Joel McHale, Cheryl Hines, and Leslie Jordan. Additionally, for the first time in Masked Singer history, Thicke and Scherzinger will perform duets with two of the season’s finalists.

This season of The Masked Singer will also feature an all-new set, and for the first time in three seasons, the competition will once again be filmed in front of a live studio audience. Speaking to EW, showrunner James Breen said the audience’s return is one of Season 6’s “most exciting” aspects. “It changes the dynamics in the studio,” he added. “I think it's just been really fun to get fans back into the room and have them experience it with us.”

The Masked Singer Season 6 Costumes

The bizarre costumes featured in Season 5 set a high bar for the wacky competition, but Season 6’s disguises prove that The Masked Singer will never run out of ideas. Revealed to Entertainment Weekly on Aug. 13 via an exclusive promo clip, the first group of costumes were revealed to be Cupcake, Banana Split, Dalmatian, Mallard, and Hamster.

Additionally, key art for the show also shows what appears to be a Queen of Hearts costume.

Rounding out the rest of the new costumes are Bull, Baby, Caterpillar, Beach Ball, Octopus, Pepper, Skunk, Mother Nature, and Jester. The Masked Singer’s Season 6 will also feature its classic mid-season Wildcard contestants, and Plestis revealed to EW that one particular costume is his favorite, as “it might be the craziest character we've ever had on the show.”

The bizarre costumes featured in Season 5 set a high bar for the competition, and the playful addition that is Cluedle-Doo could become a recurring character in Season 6 and beyond. Fans will have to stay tuned to see if the playful and feathered addition that is Cluedle-Doo returns for Season 6 and beyond or if another equally punny creature will be added to the lineup.

The Masked Singer Season 6 Clues & Theories

On Sept. 12, the first round of clues about each contestant’s identity were revealed during a special sneak peek of The Masked Singer Season 6. Here’s the full list of clues, per EW:

• Caterpillar: Taylor Swift
• Hamster: A silver whistle
• Skunk: Elvis
• Bull: A tiger and a lion
• Mallard: A red rotary phone
• Cupcake: A north-facing compass
• Jester: A bouquet that appears to include 13 red roses
• Banana Split: Three dice, each displaying the number 2
• Queen of Hearts: A horse
• Beach Ball: Two bandaids crossed over one another to make an X
• Octopus: A chocolate chip cookie with milk
• Dalmatian: Five bald eagles

The Masked Singer And The Masked Universe

Fox hasn’t announced whether or not The Masked Singer’s spinoff, The Masked Dancer, will be returning alongside the original show. As reported by Deadline May 17, that decision is still being made. “We are just figuring out where it fits into our Masked strategy,” Fox’s alternative chief, Rob Wade, told the outlet. “We’re looking to see where and when that would play best.”

Whether or not The Masked Dancer returns, though, the possibilities for more Masked antics are endless. According to Deadline, at a Television Critics Association session in March, the producers were receptive to theoretical spinoffs like The Masked Chef or The Masked Athlete. The Masked Singer camp isn’t worried about possible intra-universe competition with those shows, though. As judge Ken Jeong said, “The Masked Singer is the mothership.”

If the evolution of the Masked Universe is as imminent as it seems, then Season 6 would provide the perfect opportunity to introduce it. Either way, the upcoming installment will be one to watch — even if only to see how well it meets the heights of Season 5’s surprises.

In the meantime... move over, MCU. In response to Reddit user JKCompany’s impressive poster for the Masked Universe, featuring all the fluffy, feathered, oddball costumes from past contestants, user DJ-TheWolf-1000 wondered when we might see the franchise’s version of the Avengers. Fox, the viewers need answers ASAP.

The Masked Singer Season 6 Premiere Date

Fox announced Season 6 The Masked Singer would launch with a two-night premiere on Sept. 22 and Sept. 23 at 8 p.m. ET and continue airing on Wednesdays this fall, keeping with its two seasons per year schedule. The season’s inaugural episode will feature a double unmasking, and the second premiere episode will see two Wildcard contestants join the competition. For those hoping for additional news on future Masked Singer seasons, Deadline reported Fox has not yet announced a Season 7.

This post will be updated with costumes and additional details as more information on The Masked Singer Season 6 becomes available.